B12 injections

[Newberryk]

Quick questions I will be starting my B12 injections ASAP do they hurt I'm not the bravest when it comes to injections

[pugdogs10]

Are you self injecting or is the nurse/surgery doing them?

[Newberryk in reply to pugdogs10]

Not sure yet they didn't tell me only said I need to start having them ASAP

[Newberryk]

Not sure yet i work in a hospital so I can get one of my nurses I work with to do them

[pugdogs10]

When the nurse does them they do hurt but only a little bit and you soon get used to them. It is better if you relax your arm and let it hang as limp as you can. Nothing to be scared of and hopefully they will make you feel better very soon. Good luck.

[Newberryk in reply to pugdogs10]

Thank you do they make a big difference I just feel so weak and ill all the time just want to be able to start doing things again iv got horses but I haven't ridden for 2 months just haven't got any energy just walking up the stairs is an effort

[Jose651 in reply to Newberryk]

Hi Newberryk,

I imagine you will get a prescription from your GP. Normally the Pharmacist will give you 5 Ampoules in a little box. If this is a loading dose you may get 2 boxes.

The Practice nurse at your GPs normally gives you a log book and you take it and the Ampoules with you when you are due your next injection.

I find that if you can warm the ampoule in your hand for a little while before you give it to her/ him it is fine and there is no sting.

Hope this helps

J 🍀

[Newberryk in reply to Jose651]

Thank u

[Holmsey22]

LOL Depending on who is giving the injection. I have been getting them for years and some have been painful and some I never even felt. Just relax, don't tense up and it will be over in 10 seconds

[Newberryk in reply to Holmsey22]

How often do you have to have yours my B12 is 95 and my folate is 2.78 my doctor said no wonder why Iv been feeling so weak and ill for so long Iv had all the symptoms for B12 deficiency for a while but no doctor has ever been bothered to check my levels just fobbed me off Iv had sleeping problems for yrs I only sleep 2/3 hrs a night if I'm lucky Iv lost nearly 2 stone in weight the corners of my mouth are always cracked and bleeding my gums are bad and Iv lost teeth Iv got no energy at all and just feel so ill and week I knew something was wrong but they wouldn't listern to me me head feels like it's fuzzy I lose my balance when walking all the time end up covered in bruises where I knock my self just hope these injections will give me an energy boast I work long hrs as a nursing assistant in a hospital some of the old patients look healthier then me I'm so pale and thin in the face

[pvanderaa in reply to Newberryk]

You've got a lot of B12D symptoms. When you start on injections you will probably get some more. It gets confusing and you may think the injections are not working.

So... start a log book and give a severity score to each of your current symptoms. As you get injections, these scores should get better over. The long term (years). But it may seem like a roller coaster ride of ups and downs in the short term (months).

Reset your log to day zero with each jab. The new symptoms typically repeat in sequence after each jab in the first week after each jab.

Some new symptoms are counterintuitive such as headache, muscle pain and hunger. These occur because the repair of the nerve is sending a stronger signal to the brain which thinks they are "bad". When they occur right after the injection, they are "good" and it takes the brain 2-3 days to recalibrate to the stronger signals. They seem to get worse with worry and stress and go away faster when you know they are good indicators.

You will also need folic acid and a daily multivitamin to support metabolism and nerve repair.

[Newberryk in reply to pvanderaa]

Thank u for your advice I'm really glad I joined this site I knew nothing before and was quite worried as Iv never had anything wrong with me before x

[Newberryk in reply to Holmsey22]

Thank u

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Newberryk after over six hundred injections of cyanocobamalin B12 during the course of 45 years I can assure you that only a handful have "hurt" or "stung" a little and I always have mine given by a nurse at the surgery into the muscle of an upper arm - (normally alternately) - and I'm still "clivealive" at 75.

Can you check whether your Folate level was tested as this Vitamin B9 is essential to process the B12 you are having injected?

I wish you well for the future.

[Newberryk in reply to clivealive]

Thank you x

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Newberryk]

Sorry, I've just noticed your previous comment about "my folate is 2.78" has your doctor prescribed folic acid? If he has, start taking it after your first B12 injection.

[Newberryk in reply to clivealive]

Not yet she just wanted to get my antibodies checked and b12 again ASAP to get me started on my injections before Christmas

[Cynicalunicorn]

I started my loading injections last week and the first ( given by the doctor, quickly in to my backside) was by far the most long lasting 'pain'. I was sore for a good 24 hours. Subsequent injections (given slowly by nurses into my arms) have been more painful whilst being administered but no lasting sting or soreness.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon. My levels were just lower than yours (60 & 2) and I'm pretty sure I felt a change after two injections.

[HonorElizabeth]

Breathe deeply. Wiggle your fingers or toes (depending on where the injection is being given) The benefits outway the moments discomfort.

As a psychiatric nurse I've been giving injections since 1983. Started on myself last month. Pleased to report my advice works.

Good luck.

[Newberryk in reply to HonorElizabeth]

Thank u x

[HonorElizabeth in reply to Newberryk]

Oops. I meant outweigh. My cognitive function more impaired than I thought!

[lilymg]

They are injected into top of your arm muscle and they sting a bit

[Raven321]

Hi I've been taking them recently and they make me feel so much better. I'm really scared of needles so my best friend does them for me. However I did my own last week because she forced me to do it myself. I think mentally I make it worse for myself. She held my hand and talked me through it so it really helped :). Maybe you can get a friend or family member to help. It was over in seconds and I did really well🙀...

Try and stay calm you will be ok.

Good luck 😉

[Newberryk in reply to Raven321]

Thanks for the advice I can get one of my work colleagues to do it for me at the hospital don't think I could do it myself I'm a big wimp x

[greenbexy]

I've had five of my six loading injections, some stung a little, others just ached my arm for about 5mins after. Just relax and think 'this will make me better'!